Gear is irrelevant: And sharpness is overrated. The most important of all tools in photography is the eye. If you don't have an eye for it, there's nothing can help. And it's pretty...

CrazyJane Loc: Limbo

And sharpness is overrated. The most important of all tools in photography is the eye. If you don't have an eye for it, there's nothing can help. And it's pretty easy to see who does and who doesn't, don't you think?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Said by any True Photographer: lower your expectations to match your results.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

CrazyJane wrote:

And sharpness is overrated. The most important of all tools in photography is the eye. If you don't have an eye for it, there's nothing can help. And it's pretty easy to see who does and who doesn't, don't you think?

Try shooting birds in flight or indoor low light action without specialized equipment and see how far your eyes get you.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

You are correct, to a point.

The most important tool is, and always will be, the 6 inches or so behind the lens. This is largely why I leave the AI conversations to other people.

As for sharpness, one can overdo a good thing. There is a thing called Relative Sharpness that has more to do with the artistic aspect than anything else. This is another reason why AI powered anything does not concern me. I will be long dead before a machine will be able to attain insight into the human brain. IF it ever does.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Who can have a positive attitude about inferior results?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

CrazyJane wrote:

And sharpness is overrated. The most important of all tools in photography is the eye. If you don't have an eye for it, there's nothing can help. And it's pretty easy to see who does and who doesn't, don't you think?

So an un-sharp photo is fine?
WOW, better start saving and posting those that are fuzzy and let you praise their great composition.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Decent equipment is important. A good eye is even moreso.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Soft focus can be used for effect. It ain't very good when it ain't on purpose, though.

Nigel7 Loc: Worcestershire. UK.

Architect1776 wrote:

So an un-sharp photo is fine?
WOW, better start saving and posting those that are fuzzy and let you praise their great composition.

You want REALISTIC sharpness. Far too many photos spoilt by over-sharpening. Similarly over-saturation.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

CrazyJane wrote:

And sharpness is overrated. The most important of all tools in photography is the eye. If you don't have an eye for it, there's nothing can help. And it's pretty easy to see who does and who doesn't, don't you think?

Rubbish and nonsense. Gear is not irrelevant -- a fact so easy to validate with the most cursory of looks at the behavior of artists that it's hard to conceive that anyone could miss it.

For example; here's an up and coming young guitarist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZhr41hL0-4
He bought that guitar at Walmart because gear is irrelevant -- Oh wait a minute he's really playing one of these: https://www.alhambraguitarras.com/en/guitars

Ceramicists fuss over the clay they use and they don't use a Lazy Susan from Home Goods when they need a wheel.

Painters don't buy their paints from the Crayola Co. and they obsess over brushes.

I'm sure Rafael Aguirre would make his very best effort if he had to play a Walmart guitar. I'm also sure that we'd all be able to hear the difference and it would matter.

All the arts require gear to mediate the artist's expression. That gear either facilitates and enhances the artist's expression, or it detracts and so either way it matters.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Nigel7 wrote:

You want REALISTIC sharpness. Far too many photos spoilt by over-sharpening. Similarly over-saturation.

BebuLamar

Ysarex wrote:

Rubbish and nonsense. Gear is not irrelevant -- a ... (show quote)

All the guys who said gear is irrelevant tend to have the best gears.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

A good eye alone is never quite enough. It also takes a little talent, knowledge, a good camera and a good lens to make that photo stunning. Wishing I had ALL of that.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to buy the best camera.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

BebuLamar wrote:

All the guys who said gear is irrelevant tend to have the best gears.

And the latest as soon as it is announced.